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Summit Housing Authority director, Bonnie Osborn
FRISCO — Looking back 10 years from now, when CDOT likely still be trying to figure out what to do with I-70, and Breckenridge will still be trying to resolve parking questions, there’s one area where Summit County will have made some real measurable progress — affordable housing.
With voter approval of Measure 5A in November, a reconfigured Summit Housing Authority expects to raise about $32 million, potentially enough money to buy land and spur development of more than 1,000 deed-restricted dwellings for local teachers, firefighters, nurses, carpenters who otherwise might choose to leave the area, or face a time-consuming commute to and from neighboring areas.
Passage of Measure 5A has largely been attributed to the inspired leadership of Bonnie Osborn, director of the old and new housing authority. For the long-term positive impact her work is expected to have on our community, Osborn was chosen as one of the newsmakers of the year in Summit County.
“She took this job with a passion, which was really needed,” said outgoing County Commissioner Bill Wallace. “We’re in danger of losing our sense of community because people who work here can’t afford to live here,” Wallace said, adding that the goal of the affordable housing program is to avoid becoming like Aspen or Vail, where most workers live in “down-valley” bedroom communities.
“We don’t want the lights to be out in October,” said Breckenridge Mayor Ernie Blake, seconding Wallace. “We want a community that’s vibrant year-round.”
“It’s a critical step impacting the recruitment and retention of workers,” said Summit Chamber director Constance Jones. “She’s so deserving of this recognition. She poured her heart and soul into this.
The chamber also backed Measure 5A after some persuasive presentations by Osborn and her board, another measure of the widespread support Osborn was able to generate.
“If we don’t have the housing for employees we won’t have the economy to sustain the vitality of our community,” said Jones, who herself lives near Leadville. “Housing is a real challenge and it’s going to accelerate as we near build-out,” she added.
For her part, Osborn modestly passed along the credit to the housing authority — and to Summit County voters who passed measure 5A. They deserve the real credit for recognizing how important this is to our community’s future, Osborn said.
Osborn came on as director of the old housing authority in 2004 with two goals; To establish a long-term funding source and to create a strong, stable board of directors for the authority. Within a short time, she has done both.
Blake said he thought the housing authority was on its way to oblivion when he became mayor of Breckenridge, and credits Osborn with resurrecting the organization.
“She took the housing authority from zero back to the center of the road,” said Blake. “She’s terrific. She’s energetic, intelligent and resourceful.
Blake pointed out that, as the housing authority began to consider putting the housing question on the ballot, a survey of voters seemed to suggest there was little likelihood of getting the measure passed.
“She did it, in my view almost single-handed,” Blake said, describing how Osborn managed to educate key stakeholders in Summit County and win their support for the measure in a behind-the-scenes campaign that cost less than $10,000.
“We really want people who work here to be able to live here,” Blake said, underscoring the importance of the housing for the long-term future of the town.
Osborn was only a little daunted in 2005, when an RRC Associates study showed the true width of the housing gap.
“I thought, oh my God, what are we going to do,” she said.
The study helped make it clear that only a sustained, community wide effort would be able to make a significant difference. That set the tone for the measure 5A campaign.
“We need to be able to attract and retain qualified teachers and firefighters. They need to be able to live in houses they can afford with other families around them,” Osborn said.
“Unless you give them assistance they simply can’t afford to live here, Mayor Blake said. “The system overtakes them, as hard they work, as careful as they are with their money.”
Moving forward, Osborn said since 5A passed, she’s already had calls from private developers interested in working with the housing authority in various ways. With some public investment in land costs, Osborn said there is still a profit to be made from building deed-restricted affordable units.
The first step is an even more detailed needs assessment to figure out exactly what types of units are needed — how many bedrooms, garages, storage.
“How do we make the best use of the land?” Osborn said. “We don’t have much.
“My objective in 10 years is to have maybe half as many units as Aspen,” she said, projecting that as many as 1,200 units could come on-line by the end of that span. That would narrow, but not close, the gap.
“We want some neighborhood with different incomes, places where grandparents can live,” she said, singling out Ophir Mountain Townhomes, near Frisco, as one of the examples of the types of projects the housing authority should focus on.
“In 10 years I would hope to be able to at least show a measurable impact. Instead of being short 3,000 units, maybe we’ll only be short 1,800 units,” said Wallace. “If that doesn’t occur, I don’t know what we’re going to do.”
Bob Berwyn can be reached at (970) 331-5996, or at bberwyn@summitdaily.com.
With voter approval of Measure 5A in November, a reconfigured Summit Housing Authority expects to raise about $32 million, potentially enough money to buy land and spur development of more than 1,000 deed-restricted dwellings for local teachers, firefighters, nurses, carpenters who otherwise might choose to leave the area, or face a time-consuming commute to and from neighboring areas.
Passage of Measure 5A has largely been attributed to the inspired leadership of Bonnie Osborn, director of the old and new housing authority. For the long-term positive impact her work is expected to have on our community, Osborn was chosen as one of the newsmakers of the year in Summit County.
“She took this job with a passion, which was really needed,” said outgoing County Commissioner Bill Wallace. “We’re in danger of losing our sense of community because people who work here can’t afford to live here,” Wallace said, adding that the goal of the affordable housing program is to avoid becoming like Aspen or Vail, where most workers live in “down-valley” bedroom communities.
“We don’t want the lights to be out in October,” said Breckenridge Mayor Ernie Blake, seconding Wallace. “We want a community that’s vibrant year-round.”
“It’s a critical step impacting the recruitment and retention of workers,” said Summit Chamber director Constance Jones. “She’s so deserving of this recognition. She poured her heart and soul into this.
The chamber also backed Measure 5A after some persuasive presentations by Osborn and her board, another measure of the widespread support Osborn was able to generate.
“If we don’t have the housing for employees we won’t have the economy to sustain the vitality of our community,” said Jones, who herself lives near Leadville. “Housing is a real challenge and it’s going to accelerate as we near build-out,” she added.
For her part, Osborn modestly passed along the credit to the housing authority — and to Summit County voters who passed measure 5A. They deserve the real credit for recognizing how important this is to our community’s future, Osborn said.
Osborn came on as director of the old housing authority in 2004 with two goals; To establish a long-term funding source and to create a strong, stable board of directors for the authority. Within a short time, she has done both.
Blake said he thought the housing authority was on its way to oblivion when he became mayor of Breckenridge, and credits Osborn with resurrecting the organization.
“She took the housing authority from zero back to the center of the road,” said Blake. “She’s terrific. She’s energetic, intelligent and resourceful.
Blake pointed out that, as the housing authority began to consider putting the housing question on the ballot, a survey of voters seemed to suggest there was little likelihood of getting the measure passed.
“She did it, in my view almost single-handed,” Blake said, describing how Osborn managed to educate key stakeholders in Summit County and win their support for the measure in a behind-the-scenes campaign that cost less than $10,000.
“We really want people who work here to be able to live here,” Blake said, underscoring the importance of the housing for the long-term future of the town.
Osborn was only a little daunted in 2005, when an RRC Associates study showed the true width of the housing gap.
“I thought, oh my God, what are we going to do,” she said.
The study helped make it clear that only a sustained, community wide effort would be able to make a significant difference. That set the tone for the measure 5A campaign.
“We need to be able to attract and retain qualified teachers and firefighters. They need to be able to live in houses they can afford with other families around them,” Osborn said.
“Unless you give them assistance they simply can’t afford to live here, Mayor Blake said. “The system overtakes them, as hard they work, as careful as they are with their money.”
Moving forward, Osborn said since 5A passed, she’s already had calls from private developers interested in working with the housing authority in various ways. With some public investment in land costs, Osborn said there is still a profit to be made from building deed-restricted affordable units.
The first step is an even more detailed needs assessment to figure out exactly what types of units are needed — how many bedrooms, garages, storage.
“How do we make the best use of the land?” Osborn said. “We don’t have much.
“My objective in 10 years is to have maybe half as many units as Aspen,” she said, projecting that as many as 1,200 units could come on-line by the end of that span. That would narrow, but not close, the gap.
“We want some neighborhood with different incomes, places where grandparents can live,” she said, singling out Ophir Mountain Townhomes, near Frisco, as one of the examples of the types of projects the housing authority should focus on.
“In 10 years I would hope to be able to at least show a measurable impact. Instead of being short 3,000 units, maybe we’ll only be short 1,800 units,” said Wallace. “If that doesn’t occur, I don’t know what we’re going to do.”
Bob Berwyn can be reached at (970) 331-5996, or at bberwyn@summitdaily.com.
